Peace pipe in the house

Leaked contents of General Bajwa’s meeting with senators help Pakistan army’s image

What took the senators aback was the bluntness with which General Bajwa made the stance of the army clear about its role in Pakistan — that it was not involved in destabilising elected governments. (Archive photo)

On December 19, Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa faced the Committee of the Whole at the Senate in Islamabad and answered some “tough and tricky” questions from the senators which they later “leaked” to the media. It was a far cry from the appearance made by the former army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in parliament after the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in 2011. What took the senators aback was the bluntness with which General Bajwa made the stance of the army clear about its role in Pakistan — that it was not involved in destabilising elected governments.

His most important assertions were as follows: One, the situation would have been aggravated if the army hadn’t brokered the deal between the government and the organisers of the 22-day sit-in at Faizabad interchange, the Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah. He said the army officer became a signatory to the deal “in good faith” but the sit-in should have been taken care of early in its unfolding. The army was not behind the sit-in and if that is ever proved, he would resign. Two, he firmly believed in democracy and the supremacy of the constitution. However, he did not deny past mistakes with reference to generals Zia and Musharraf.

Three, he said that the military was ready to back political leadership’s initiative for normalisation of relations with arch-enemy India. Four, on Iran, he said Islamabad and Tehran could not be adversaries but the army’s efforts for a rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh had received a “lukewarm response” from Saudi Arabia. Five, his most crucial observation, that a dozen of retired army officers appearing as discussants on TV channels were not briefed by the army. He said that after retirement, they were on their own as citizens and had nothing to do with the army.

The senators were overjoyed by what they heard, especially as the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PMLN) was constantly hinting at the “hidden hand of the establishment” behind the ouster of its prime minister, Nawaz Sharif. There was, however, one exception. PMLN Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan stated after the four-hour session: “Forget about civilian and military leaders being on one page. Civil-military issues are a reality”.

Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani on Wednesday rightly lost his cool over senators leaking the details of the in-camera briefing. What use is the word “in-camera” if the house is going to hit the town with details not meant to be aired to the public?

Yet, the leak has turned out to be benign and has disarmed suspicions all around. The image of the army has improved, the commitment of the current army chief highlighted by his sincere admission that the “interventions” of the past army chiefs will not be repeated. He asserted the subordination of the army to the constitution and the role it clearly defines for the armed forces. One must also bear in mind that the Senate is dominated by two parties that the army chiefs of the past have not been kind to, overthrowing or bullying their governments and derailing the judiciary from its designated role.

Consider this: There was a “long march” and a “dharna” by Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf and Allama Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistani Awami Tehreek (PTI) in 2014 against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) government assisted, according to a senior leader of the PTI, Javed Hashmi, by the ISI through a retired officer.

Brigadier (retd) Ejaz Shah had moved from his residence in Lahore Defence Society to a guesthouse in Islamabad to plan the assault strategy of the Khan-Qadri duo. Brigadier Shah was being connected to an earlier rumour that ex-ISI chief General Pasha had visited Lahore. Pasha was also connected with the earlier “visit” of Tahirul Qadri to Pakistan and his party’s sit-in protest against the PPP government in January 2013. This was finally confirmed by Hashmi who disclosed to a TV channel that Shah had prepared the entire “script” of the party’s action-plan and had got PTI chief Khan to go to London to meet PAT chief Qadri secretly in the first week of June 2014. The cult of “dharna” since that year has brought Pakistan to its knees. This is what the current army chief of Pakistan has forsworn and that is news worth leaking.

What he said is correct , Peace is indeed a pipe dream of a weed smoking men , in short chandukhane ki gupp.

(0)(0)

Reply

Indian Singh

Dec 31, 2017 at 8:56 am

Most Countries have an ARMY but PA-KI ARMY has a COUNTRY. .. Most INDIANS are least concerned about PA-KI JIHADI ARMY as long as they F UCK PA-KIS and AFGHANIS along PAK-AFGHNAN BORDER. ................ Mr MODI led BJP Govt follows the only policy PA-KI ARMY understands- PA-KI firing along INDO-PAK BORDER, will be replied with double the firing and INDIAN SOLDIER ki-lling will be retaliated with DOUBLE the KI-LLING.

(5)(2)

Reply

George Williams

Dec 30, 2017 at 6:36 pm

DO YOU NEED LOAN TO START YOUR NEW YEAR 2018
Do you need an urgent loan to solve your financial needs,we provide loan ranging from $ 2,000.00 to $ 100,000.00 Max, we are reliable, efficient and dynamic, with 100 guaranteed loan also it gives (euros, pounds and dollars .) the interest rate applicable to all loans is (3 ) .If you are interested in taking a loan,feel free to contact us today,we promise to offer you the best services ever. (Rotaryloanfirm )
Do you need a personal loan?
Do you need a mortgage loan?
Do you want to buy a car or house?
Do you want to refinance?
Do you need a huge capital to start off your business proposal or expansion?
Have you lost hope and you think there is no way out, and your financial burdens still persists? Contact us for possible business co-operation Contact us via email: ( Rotaryloanfirm )

(1)(4)

Reply

Abid Mahmud Ansari

Jan 1, 2018 at 1:52 pm

George, seems to have a lot of money. Why don't you lend it to the millions of "foot-path" dwellers in slums of Calcutta, Bombay, Dehli etc. who are born, grow stunted, marry and die on the foot paths. May be you are a "bunia", you don't lend money, if you don't have any hope to recover it?

(0)(0)

Reply

Ramachandran Kannan

Dec 30, 2017 at 11:05 am

The image of the Pakistani Army is that of a terrorist organisation. It will require more than empty promises to a few selected Pakistani politicians to change this image.

(9)(3)

Reply

Abid Mahmud Ansari

Jan 1, 2018 at 1:54 pm

Yes, it strikes terror in the hearts of "bharti soorma". Hahahaha!

(0)(0)

Reply

John Williams

Dec 30, 2017 at 10:23 am

LOAN FOR BUSINESS,PERSONAL NEEDS CONSTRUCTION AVAILABLE."
DO YOU NEED FUNDS TO START OR EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS, HAVE YOU BEEN IN SEARCH FOR AN URGENT PERSONAL LOAN FOR ANY PURPOSE, YOU CAN ALSO CLEAR YOUR DEPT PLUS A CONSTRUCTION LOAN UPTO 10CR AVAILABLE AT SAME RATE OF INTEREST APPLY VIA FOR A QUICK APPROVAL TODAY.Tel 8147280163